Not more than eleven persons have been killed in a renewed communal clash that ensued between two communities in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.
It was gathered that the clash, which broke out on Thursday, March 8, 2018, between Beebo and Okwabang communities, lasted till Saturday evening with several houses and a hospital burnt.
According to Agbor Ogar, an eyewitness, while Okwabang community reportedly killed eight persons, Beebo, in reprisals killed three persons from the opposing community during the clash.
“As we speak, Okwabang community has killed eight persons while Beebo also murdered three of their persons in retaliation. Please, let the State Government do something quickly to calm the situation before it gets out of hand” he pleaded.
“The incident started when a group of persons went to tap palm wine but they were attacked by their assailants. Only one person escaped the onslaught, calling on others to join the fray.”
Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations Officer, when contacted, however, said only three persons were killed.
“When the situation came up on Thursday, Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police, sent the DPO of Ikom Divisional Police to arrest the situation.
“It was on Friday when the crisis increased, that’s when we have to send the MOPOL to the communities to restore peace. And it was only three persons that were killed and not 11 as speculated,” the police spokesman said.
